With these hands, Reb Roberts, 54, and Carmel Loftis, 53, will celebrate ten years of Sanctuary Folk Art, located at 140 S. Division Ave. The gallery's open house, "10," includes art, music, and food May 1, 6--11 p.m. About twenty local artists will display their work. The eclectic artist mix includes self-taught and untrained approaches to works of art.

Roberts's passion for this kind of art is revealed in his business phone message: "You have to check this place out! We have the most incredible, intuitive, outsider, and contemporary folk art in the entire universe."

Dianne Carroll BurdickTwo's company: Carmel Loftis and Reb Roberts.

It was the late 1990s when Roberts was introduced to the Division Avenue neighborhood through Heartside Ministries. He collaborated on projects and participated in art shows with Heartside artists. Roberts's process evolved into the Heartside community with similar creative styles and a mutual admiration of each artist. Similar styles, friendship, and community provided Roberts with the idea for his gallery and studio.

"I use recycled latex house paint, found things, and scavenged materials like wood, tin, and old silk screens," Roberts said. He goes dumpster diving, but lately items are hard to find because even contractors are also out looking for scrap. People bring scavenged items to Roberts and Loftis, like cabinet doors and silk screens. "We paint on them like canvases," Roberts said. "I love tar paper to paint on," Loftis said, while Roberts said he prefers, "shutters and kitchen cabinet doors, self-made frames, and wood."

The comment reminds Loftis of the house she lived in for twenty-five years. "When I moved, I took the pullout bread board that I prepared so many meals on. So many memories," she said. Loftis painted flowers on the cutting board canvas, and the piece now sells for $125.

Roberts also saw the need to spotlight artists and to represent them fairly. These Sanctuary Folk artists, most with no formal training, deserve to be appreciated, valued, and paid for what they do. Loftis added, "It's not about the education or financing, it's about the art." It's a place for unrepresented artists to be represented. A lot of these artists are not mainstream. Some are, but don't have the opportunities, time, or resources to promote their art. The gallery provides this promotion and some services for them.

Roberts's passion for art and the community support drive the success of the gallery. Loftis, his wife of seven years, added Roberts, provides a beacon of energy and light for survival for the road least taken for some artists. His signature series of a cat-like figure speaks with these single words: grace, create, peace, joy, kindness, courage, and gratitude. I added INSPIRE.